Popcorn popper



May 19, 1M, a I KETT 2,41,369

POPCORN POPPER Filed Sept. 21, 1955 Q Me/wbo'v SPPicAiZZ Patented May 19, 1936 L NETED STATES PATENT GFFHQE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to the class of cooking utensils and pertains particularly to a device designed primarily for the popping of popcorn.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel popcorn popper in which a wire receptacle or basket is mounted upon and secured in a novel manner to a rotatable cylinder.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a popcorn popper comprising a Wire receptacle or basket and a carrying shaft therefor, a novel means of joining the shaft with the basket whereby the several parts of the structure are firmly held together.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described in which a portion of the basket carrying shaft is utilized as a pintle for a cover of the basket.

The invention will be best understood. from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the basket.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, the numeral l designates a popcorn carrying basket generally. This basket consists of a casing preferably of circular cross-section, which is formed of suitable screen wire, as indicated at 2. The ends of this cylindrical screen Wire body are closed by the front and rear plates 3 and 4 respectively, each of which has a surrounding flange 5 and each is pressed outwardly at the point of joinder between the plate body and the flange to form an annular channel 6 in which the adjacent edge of the cylinder 2 positions.

The inner end plate 4 of the popcorn receptacle has the central aperture '1 while the outer plate 3 is provided with the two apertures 8 and 9 disposed at opposite sides of the center of the plate. The numeral l designates a supporting shaft for the receptacle which adjacent one end is bent to form the laterally extending portion H which terminates in a right angularly extending part I2 and which constitutes a pintle for a cover member, hereinafter described. This right angularly directed portion I2 terminates in the reversely bent tip l3 which parallels the shaft Ill, as shown, and in assembling the device the end of the shaft l0 remote from the pintle l2 may be extended through the aperture 8 to bring the tip 13 into position in the aperture e of the forward plate 3, and the shaft may then be extended through the central aperture 1 in the rear plate 4, it being understood that the screen wire or fabric cylinder 2 will be disposed between the plates so that when the securing element 84 is placed in position 15 the several parts will be drawn securely together.

The element M may be in the form of a nut which is in threaded engagement with the shaft if! in the area Hi. It will be apparent that after the turned forward end of the shaft is engaged with the head 3 and the body portion of the shaft is disposed in the aperture 1 by engaging this nut M with the threaded portion 15 of the shaft and drawing it tightly against the plate 4, the two plates will be made to securely hold the cylinder 2 in position.

The forward plate 3 is provided with an opening It. A cover plate H which is substantially semi-circular in form, is provided to close the opening 66, and an edge of the plate is formed into a sleeve 218 through which the pintle portion l2 of the shaft extends. Thus when the shaft is secured to the end plates of the cylinder the sleeve I8 of the cover I? will be held securely in place and the cover can be swung on the pintle when shifting it to cover or uncover the opening 56.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the cover H in closed position such, for example, as the resilient latch l9 and which is attached to the screen cylinder 2 and adapted to frictionally engage over the edge of the cover in the manner shown in Fig. 2.

A handle 28 is provided, through which is formed a longitudinal passage 2| to receive a portion of the shaft it. A second area is provided with screw threads as indicated at 22 for the reception of a nut 23 which limits the movement of the handle 29 forwardly on the shaft and after the handle has been placed on the shaft to bring its forward end against the nut 23, the shaft is bent at 24 and again at 25 to form a crank on the portion 26 of which is placed a handle 21. Both of the handles 20 and 2t turn freely on their respective portions of the shaft and it will be apparent that by holding the handle 20 in one hand and turning the crank portion of the shaft on which the handle 27 is mounted, the shaft H] i will be rotated and will rotate with it the screen cylinder 2.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention discloses a novel means of mounting a screen cylinder upon a supporting shaft and of providing a supporting pintle for a cover of the cylinder whereby the assemblage of the several parts may be easily made and the parts will be securely held against displacement.

What is claimed is:

l. A device of the character described comprising a screen cylinder, a plate covering each end of the cylinder, one of said plates having a central opening therethrough and the other plate having two openings therethrough, a shaft extending through the central portion of one plate, and through one of the two openings of the other plate and having a reversely bent portion projecting back through the other of the said two openings, whereby the shaft and the two-opening plate are locked together, means carried by the shaft and abutting the outer side of the plate having the single opening for locking the shaft, cylinder, and plates together, means facilitating the introduction of material into the cylinder, and handle means carried by the shaft facilitating the rotation of the shaft and cylinder.

2. A device of the character described comprising a screen cylinder, a pair of plates each closing an end of the cylinder, one of said plates having a central opening and the other constituting a forward plate and having a pair of openings and further having an opening through which material may be introduced into the cylinder, a shaft extending through the central opening of the first plate and having a portion bent at right angles thereto and terminating at one end in a reversely directed tip, said tip and the part of the shaft adjacent the other end of the said portion each passing through one of the two first mentioned openings of the forward plate, a cover for the material introducing opening of the forward plate and having a sleeve through which the right angular portion of the shaft passes, means upon the shaft engaging the first mentioned plate for locking the shaft, cylinder and plates together, and annular means carried by the shaft facilitating the simultaneous rotation of the shaft and cylinder.

3. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having two opposite walls and a connecting foraminous Wall therebetween, a carrying shaft extending through the receptacle and through said walls, the shaft having an obliquely directed portion within the receptacle and passing through one wall at a point offset from the radial center of the wall and returning through the wall at a point upon the opposite side of said center whereby turning of the receptacle on the shaft is prevented, the portion of the shaft between said points lying across an imperforate part of the adjacent wall, means for introducing material into the receptacle, and one end of said shaft constituting a handle.

4. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having two opposite walls and a connecting foraminous wall therebetween, a carrying shaft extending through the receptacle and through said walls, the shaft passing through one wall at two spaced points whereby turning of the receptacle on the shaft is prevented, a door covering an opening in one of said two opposite walls, a hinge sleeve forming a part of the door and having a portion of said shaft passing therethrough to form a pivot pintle, means for securing the door over the opening, and said shaft at one end constituting a handle.

5. In a device of the character described, a receptacle having two opposite walls and a connecting foraminous wall therebetween, a carrying shaft extending through the receptacle and through said walls, the shaft having an obliquely directed portion within the receptacle and passing through one wall at a point offset from the radial center of the wall and returning through the wall at a point upon the opposite side of said center whereby turning of the receptacle on the shaft is prevented, the portion of the shaft between said points lying across an imperforate part of the adjacent wall, the wall adjacent the said portion of the shaft having an opening therein, a cover for the opening, said last mentioned portion constituting a carrier on which the cover is mounted to swing, said shaft at one end constituting a handle.

STERLING P. PICKETT. 

